1907 SS KEEWATIN On The Move? Updated
The SS KEEWATIN, the last Edwardian liner, has been a tourist attraction for the last 44-years at Douglas, Michigan on the east shore of the Kalamazoo River, a few miles from Lake Michigan. Built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Scotland in 1907 KEEWATIN ran continuously for almost 60 seasons with her sister SS ASSINIBOIA between Port Arthur / Fort William and Port McNicoll in Ontario, Canada, until retired in 1966.
R.J. Peterson and his wife, a local marina-owning couple in Douglas, took out a personal loan to buy the vessel, saving her from scrap and restored KEEWATIN’s interiors, opening to the public for paid tours in 1967.
Last week, Skyline International Development Co. signed papers to acquire and move the 350-foot SS KEEWATIN from Peterson’s Tower Marina, some 550 miles to Port McNicoll, Ontario, its original home port from 1907 to 1965. The City of Port McNicoll plans to renovate the 104-year-old steamship and feature her as part of a waterfront park.
“The Keewatin is a treasure that needs to be preserved,” said Peterson (who will turn 85 this year), “If I was younger, I wouldn’t be selling it.” “Here, it’s just a local attraction I brought to town. In Ontario, it’s a Canadian steamship with national historic connections,” he added, noting the ship was part of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s rail-to-water transportation system of deluxe travel during the first half of the 20th century.
The move will require dredging the lake around the hull that is now surrounded by silt — this, and the tow are estimated to cost USD $1 million. The ship’s draft is 16 to 18 feet but removal of lifeboats (which has already been done) and other items such as furniture, could lessen the draft to 12 feet. The move is expected to take place in 2012, followed by a period of restoration at the Canadian port.
UPDATE: The removal of the KEEWATIN began in March with dredging of the area around the ship’s berth. A tractor pushed on the ship’s port side as a tug worked to pull on her starboard side, at one point giving the KEE a ten degree list. With special thanks to Scott Davis.
UPDATE: May 28, 2012: Douglas and Saugatuck officials organized a farewell ceremony today for KEEWATIN vessel that has been part of the community for more than 40 years. Members of the local Lakeshore Community Chorus sang “America the Beautiful” and “O Canada!” Eric Conroy, spokesman for the Canadian owner of the ship will be onboard coordinating the ship departure when she is towed out of the Douglas at 7 a.m. Wednesday May 30. The ship is expected to enter Port McNicoll on June 23 with a joyous welcome expected for the former Canadian Pacific Railway steamship as she returns to her home port. Bagpipes as the ceremony closed.
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Wow, she will be missed! I have toured the Keewatin many times as a teenager and a few times as an adult while enjoying summer vacations in the neighboring city of Saugatuck Michigan. I haven’t been back to the area for a few years, but will surely miss seeing this floating “landmark” while pulling in to town on the Blue Star Highway. She will surely be missed by the locals and summer time crowd alike. However, I am very glad to know that she will receive some nice restoration love and what sounds like a wonderful berth in her home port. Thanks for this excellent report!
As a young travel agent, many, many years ago, I remember booking passengers from Toronto to Vancouver on Canadian Pacific Railways, and they broke their train journey in Port McNichol to take the Keewatin or Assinaboia to Port Arthur, then rejoin the train to travel on to Vancouver. What a nice way to enjoy your trip to Western Canada.
Thank you for a great update on a long familiar Great Lakes vessel. Peter do you know if George Sharpe is still around? I can’t find anything on the net. He gave us the art deco classic Milwaukee Clipper,
Last of kind… Thanks for update. Videos of the ship and a journey abord can be found at:
http://cruiselinehistory.com/?p=10437
I grew up a few miles away from the Keewatin’s home on the Kalamazoo River. I can’t imagine driving through Saugatuck and not seeing her, but I am glad that her new owners are enthusiastic about preserving her. She will be missed!
For once some positive news,I heard this was in planning for a while the old lady should be back in Canada where she belongs in her old port. I hope to new owners don’t to anything drastic to her,like the Queen Mary.. be nice if they built a museum next to her too look like the old Port McNichol Station that you see in the old Photos
Many thanks to the Petersen’s for keeping preserved all there years which must of been a hard task
I live in Midland, Ontario and I’ll be delighted when the Keewatin return to Port McNicol as it will only be 5 miles from our home and is sure to be a very interesting museum / tourist attraction. Especially for me to take out-of-town guest to visit as well as Port Discovery in Penetanguishene, Saint Marie Among the Hurons and other historical sites that all are within a 15 minute drive to my home.
That ship should ave never been sold. its been here to long. i 1st toured it in the 80s @ least 2 times. once with my x wife barb in 96 and a few other times. late 2011 i promised my now wife karen id take her on a tour of the ship,then i hear its been sold. thanx 2 u i will b breaking my promise to my wife and i dont like breaking promises with her. that dont make me very happy to ave to do that.she and me believe the ship should ave been sold to someone here if at all and stayed here where it belongs. signed Larry and Karen A. Holtgeerts at karenannholtgeerts@yahoo.com
I can’t help but wonder if the old gal is actually FLOATING. She’s been sitting in the same spot… unmoved… for over four decades! The water line along her hull rises and falls as the river does the same. If she was floating, would that happen? It’ll be interesting to see what happens when they try to move her. It’s a devastating loss for the towns of Douglas and Saugatuck, as it’s been a community landmark there seemingly forever. I’m glad to learn that she’ll continue to be preserved. I just hope she makes the trip to her new home on TOP of the waves!
What day and time does the Keewatin leave Saugatuck.
What day and time does the Keewatin leave its port in Saugatuck?
Press reports say the tow will begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 30 – Martin
Three cheers for preservationist Peterson for having had the foresight to save this ship from the scrappers. Too bad there weren’t more of his type on the Great Lakes. Had it been so, they might have had the draw of Swiss and Swedish Lakes with their iconic steamers.
—SWL
Hi,
Please issue a correction to your story.
The Keewatin was delivered to Owen Sound, Ontario in 1907.
She ran between Owen Sound and Port Arthur/Fort William from 1908 until 1911.
In 1912 the Canadian Pacific Railway moved their southern Great Lakes Terminal to the newly built company town of Port McNicol.
The Keewatin then commenced running from Port McNicol to the Canadian Lakehead for the next 54 years.
Thank you.
Local news says it’s stuck on a sandbar now. Would have loved to go down and watch this!
Kimberly, it wasn’t left stuck on a sand bar when they gave up trying to move it. I’m not sure why the news reported that (I heard it too), but perhaps they just didn’t word it correctly. It’s currently floating, but they couldn’t move it past a certain point due to the shallow water.
I graduated from SHS in ’57. I was still in HS when the SSK came into the harbor and spent her first winter in Saugatuck in front of our house before being winched to her first berth . Yes, sad to see her go but Gee! Look at the new condo’s that are taking her place.
Live webcam of KEEWATIN’s departure: http://www.saugatuck.com/Keewatin_skycam.asp
Like everything in America it is available to the highest bidder. I’m sure Peterson been wanting to get rid of her for years. The Albatross is gone and in return he gets more marina space.
I went to see her as a kid and back then it was in need of better preservation. I’m sure the Canadians will do a better job. Just be glad she wasn’t sold for scrap. More condos and marina equals big bucks in Peterson pocket. The killing of two birds with one stone.
At least someone in America saved her from the scrappers decades ago. That was a labor of love and Peterson, who is aging, did what he felt best to give her a viable future. This is one example where someone actually put his money where is mouth is/was. Now, let’s wish the KEE a safe passage and a successful new life. There really is nothing like her left in the world.
— Peter
Best wishes on her voyage. Safe travels. You will be missed. Rusty
My Dad and I toured her in her 95th year. I am so thrilled they decided to maintain and keep her preserved. Would have loved to see her one more time before leaving port. It’s now on my list to visit her in her new port.
Just to let all you Americans know; the SS Keewatin looks beautiful in her new position in Port McNicoll. We are very grateful that she was preserved so well in the USA, and even more grateful to see her home again.
My husband and I toured her yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Everyone! come to Canada and see her here!
My wife & I drove from our Toronto area home the day the S.S. Keewatin was due to arrive, took photos & was well received by many people. Later that year we went back & took a tour. We were really blown away by how well Mr. Peterson had maintained the interior of the ship. There were speeches after the ship had been secured to the shore. Apparently the staff tried the engine while under tow & it still worked after 50 years of inactivity. I think the new owner will keep the ship maintained. The ship looks really good. If anyone wants to tour the ship, get there before 4 pm. We went this year & got there too late. Next year.
Jim